British journalist and political commentator Sami Hamdi was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at San Francisco International Airport after his visa was revoked, according to U.S. authorities and civil-rights groups.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the visa cancellation was rooted in national-security concerns and that Hamdi is now subject to removal proceedings.

Hamdi, who holds British citizenship, was in the United States on a speaking tour and had recently addressed events organised by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

CAIR, which is representing him legally, characterised the detention as a retaliation for Hamdi’s vocal criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, describing it as a “blatant affront to free speech.”

An influential activist, Laura Loomer, publicly claimed credit for having lobbied U.S. authorities to revoke Hamdi’s visa, citing his past statements on the Gaza conflict.

U.S. officials pointed to the Trump administration’s posture of denying entry to individuals deemed to “support terrorism or undermine American national security.”

Hamdi’s detention underscores a wider pattern of visa cancellations and expulsions of individuals in the United States connected to pro-Palestinian commentary or activism.

Legal experts say the episode raises urgent questions about due process, press freedom and the use of immigration powers in the context of political speech.

Hamdi remains in ICE custody and his lawyers are actively seeking his release and restoration of his visa.

The case sets up a high-stakes confrontation between the administration’s national-security posture and advocates of robust free-expression protections for foreign journalists operating in the U.S.